Welcome to the ninth edition of the Korean Film Newsletter. This letter is distributed every 2-3 months to inform the reader of the latest events in the industry. An archive of past newsletters is available at http://www.koreanfilm.org. If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, or if you have any questions, send an email message to darcy@koreanfilm.org.

New at Koreanfilm.org: (a) reviews of Libera Me; I Wish I Had a Wife, Too; and Tears; (b) interviews with Shin Sang-okk and Kang Su-youn; (c) an essay about North Korean film; (d) contact numbers for Korean production companies, distributors and sales agents; and (e) two new forums on the Korean Film Discussion Board: one on TV dramas, and one on short films, animation, and documentaries.

NEW RELEASES (November 2000 - February 2001)

Libera Me ["Li-be-ra Me"] Directed by Yang Yoon-ho. A local fire station struggles to limit the damage done by a mentally-unbalanced arsonist with a grudge against society. Set in Pusan. See review on '2000' film page. Starring Choi Min-soo, Yu Gee-tae, Cha Seung-won, Kim Kyu-ri, Park Sang-myun, Jung Joon, etc. Produced by Dream Search. Distributed by Cinema Service. Rating: 15+. 119 min. November 11. (http://www.liberame21.co.kr)

The Legend of Gingko ["Dan-juk-bi-yun-su"] Directed by Park Jae-hyun. A fantasy-epic centering on the struggles between two tribes, Hawk and Volcano, and the loves and rivalries that are spawned as a result. Starring Sol Kyung-gu, Choi Jin-shil, Kim Seok-hoon, Kim Yoon-jin and Lee Mi-sook. Produced by KangJeGyu Pictures. Distributed by CJ Entertainment. Rating: 15+. 117 min. November 11. (http://www.gingkobed2.com)

Bongja ["Bong-ja"] Directed by Park Chul-soo. An unconventional portrayal of the friendship that develops between two women at the edge of society: one an alcoholic 'kimbap' maker, and the other an orphan in her late teens. Starring Suh Gap-sook and Kim Jin-ah. Produced by Next Pictures. Distributed by Film Bank. Rating: 18+. 92 min. November 25. (http://www.bong-ja.com)

Asako in Ruby Shoes ["Soon-ae-bo"] Written and directed by E, J-Yong (An Affair). A lonely civil servant in Korea seeks romance on the internet, while a young woman in Japan agrees to appear on a live-cam website to finance her impending suicide attempt. Starring Lee Jung-jae, Tachibana Misato, and Kim Min-hee. Produced by Koo & Film. Distributed by Cinema Service. Rating: 15+. 117 min. December 9. (http://www.koofilm.com)

The Cut Runs Deep ["Kut Run-suh Dip"] Written and directed by John H. Lee. A delivery boy of mixed descent becomes drawn into a Korean youth gang, leading him to confront his identity as a Korean-American. Starring Alexandre Manning and David McInnis. Produced by Ilshin Investment. Distributed by Tube Entertainment. Rating: 18+. 114 min. December 16. (http://www.tcrd.co.kr)

A Masterpiece in My Life ["Bulhoo-ui Myung-jak"] Directed by Shim Kwang-jin. A slightly bitter comedy about a director of pornographic films and the screenwriter he falls in love with. Contains many inside references to the Korean film industry as well as portrait of life under difficult economic conditions. Starring Park Joong-hoon and Song Yoon-ah. Produced and distributed by Cinema Service. Rating: 18+. 115 min. December 23. (http://www.bulhoo.com)

Jakarta ["Ja-ka-reu-ta"] Written and directed by Jung Chosin. Three different bands of crooks all decide to rob the same bank on the same day. When plans go awry, however, the would-be robbers are turned against each other. Starring Lim Chang-jung, Jin Hee-kyung, Lee Jae-eun, Kim Sang-joong, Yoon Da-hoon, Kim Sae-jun and Park Jun-gyu. Produced by Cinema Zenith. Distributed by CJ Entertainment. Rating: 15+. 92 min. December 30. (http://www.jakarta21.co.kr)

Teenage Hooker Becomes Killing Machine ["Taehangno-e-seo Me-ch'un-ha-da-ga T'o-mak-sar-he-dang-han Yeo-go-seng A-jik Taehangno-eh Itta" ] Written, directed, photographed, and edited by Nam Ki-woong. Literal title: "The High School Student Who Got Chopped Up While Selling Herself in Daehakroh is Still in Daehakroh." A high school student is prostituting herself when she is spotted by her teacher. She agrees to give him sexual favors in return for keeping quiet, but after she becomes pregnant he hires two hitmen to bump her off. Later, however, a twisted scientist brings her back to life, and she goes out for revenge... Starring Lee So-yoon and Kim Dae-tong. Distributed by Indiestory, Intz.com and Dongsung Art Center. Rating: 18+. 60 min. December 30. (http://daehakro.intz.com)

I Wish I Had a Wife, Too ["Na-do An-e-ga Iss-uss-eu-myun Joh-ket-ta"] Directed by Park Heung-shik. A romantic comedy focused on a lonely bankteller and the teacher who works next door. See review on '2001' film page. Starring Sol Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon and Jin Hee-kyung. Produced by Sidus. Distributed by Cinema Service. Rating: 15+. 106 min. January 13. (http://mywife.sidus.net)

A Day ["Haru"] Directed by Han Ji-seung. A young married couple are fraught with anxiety due to their difficulties in having a child. When at last the wife gets pregnant, they are overjoyed, but tragic news lies ahead. Starring Ko So-young, Lee Sung-jae, and Kim Chang-wan. Produced by Koo & Film. Distributed by Cinema Service. Rating: 15+. 112 min. January 20. (http://www.koofilm.com)

Tears ["Noon-mool"] Written and directed by Im Sang-soo. A tale of four street kids, loosely based on the director's experiences living in Garibong-dong, Seoul. See review on '2001' film page. Starring Han Jun, Bong Tae-gyu, Park Keun-young, and Cho Eun-ji. Produced by b.o.m. film productions. Distributed by CJ Entertainment. Rating: 18+. 103 min. January 20. (http://tears.korea.com - bilingual site)

Yonggary 2001 ["2001 Yong-ga-ri"] Directed by Shim Hyung-rae. A new edit of the 1999 film Yonggary with improved special effects. Shot in English. Starring Harrison Young, Richard Livingston, etc. Produced by Zeronine Entertainment. Distributed by AFDF. Rating: General. 99 min. January 20. (http://www.2001yonggary.com)

Bungee Jumping of Their Own ["Bun-ji-jum-p'eu-reul Ha-da"] Directed by Kim Dae-seung. Two university students fall in love in 1983, but on the night the man must leave for the military, the woman disappears and they never see each other again. Seventeen years later the man is now a high school teacher, and one of his male students bears an uncanny resemblance to his old girlfriend. Starring Lee Byung-heon, Lee Eun-ju and Yeo Hyun-soo. Produced by Noon Entertainment. Distributed by Buena Vista International Korea, Walt Disney Company Korea. Rating: 15+. 99 min. February 3. (http://www.gobungee.co.kr)

Running Seven Dogs ["Ch'il-in-ui Se-byuk"] Written and directed by Kim Joo-man. A taxi driver accidentally comes across a bag of money, which he takes for himself. He leaves it with his girlfriend who works at a convenience store, but soon the owners of the money come looking. Starring Lee Ji-hyun, Jung So-young, Sung Dong-il. Produced by Ed Wood Film and Y2 Cinema. Distributed by Film Bank. Rating: 18+. 98 min. February 3. (http://www.7dogs.co.kr)

The Rhapsody ["Kwang-shi-gok"] Directed by Jang Hoon. An anti-terrorist squad is ordered to steal information from the Defence Department, but after completing their mission they realize that a corrupt politician is pulling the strings. Min-shik, a member of the squad, and Ji-young, his blind sister, get caught up in the ensuing struggle. Starring Jang Dong-jik, Kim Yoo-seok, and Park Eh-jin. Produced by CineEye. Distributed by Columbia Tristar. Rating: 15+. 102 min. February 10. (http://rhapsody.korea.com)

Making Sun-Dried Red Peppers ["Go-ch'u-mal-li-gi"] Directed by Jang Hee-sun. A docu-drama shot in director Jang Hee-sun's own home, starring her real-life mother and grandmother and an actress playing the part of Jang. A straightforward portrayal of ordinary life. Starring Park Joon-myun, Sul Jung-won, and Choi Chul-soo. Distributed by Intz.com. Rating: General. 54 min. February 10. (http://ggochoo.intz.com)

Dream of a Warrior ["Chun-sa-mong"] Written and directed by Park Hee-joon. In a futuristic world, soldier Sung-jin is asked to utilize a special time machine to rescue a scientist's lost daughter. Fate has it that the daughter looks just like a princess in the soldier's dreams. Starring Hong Kong star Leon Lai, Park Eun-hye and Lee Na-young. Produced by Junior Power Pictures. Distributed by Hanmac Films. Rating: 12+. 108 min. February 17. (http://www.1004mong.com)

COMING SOON

The Resurrection of the Little Match Seller* Directed by Jang Sun-woo (Lies). A film about a man who gets caught up in a reality-bending video game. Apart from the notoriety surrounding star director Jang Sun-woo, the film is also making headlines for its substantial budget of 7 billion won (US$5.6 million). The film features three debut actors: teenage model Im Eun-kyung, who has become a sensation for her series of ads for telecom firm TTL; new TV star Kim Hyun-sung; and rapper Kim Jin-pyo. The film began shooting in Pusan in late January and is scheduled for a release this summer.

One Fine Spring Day* Directed by Hur Jin-ho. Hur's second film following the 1998 critical and box-office success Christmas in August. The film will feature popular stars Yoo Ji-tae (Ditto) and Lee Young-ae (JSA) in the roles of a sound engineer and a radio producer, respectively. The film will be internationally co-produced, with its US$1.45 million budget shared by Korea's Sidus (40%), Japan's Omega Projects (40%) and Hong Kong's Applause (20%). Shooting began in February and is scheduled to last until mid-June; a release is projected for early October.

Friend* (Alternate title: Those Were the Days) Directed by Kwak Kyung-taek (Dr. K). A portrait of the friendship between four classmates in 1970s Pusan, and the various paths their lives end up taking. Based on the real-life experiences of director Kwak Kyung-taek, who implies this noir-style film will be more serious than his previous features. Starring Chang Dong-gun and Yoo Oh-sung. Scheduled for release on March 31.

Failan Directed by Song Hae-sung (Calla). Set in Incheon, the story of a relationship between a migrant worker from China and an unemployed Korean man who dreams of buying a boat. The film stars popular Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung (Fly Me to Polaris) in the title role, as well as Korean actor Choi Min-shik (Happy End, Shiri). Thanks to its star power the film has already been presold to five Asian territories.

Take Care of My Cat Written and directed by Jeong Jae-eun. One in a series of upcoming films directed by women. A story centered around the lives of three women in their early twenties, and a small kitten. This is the first feature film by Jeong, who in the past has directed several award-winning shorts. Starring Bae Doo-na (Barking Dogs Never Bite).

* official English title not yet available

NOTES

JSA breaks records, competes at Berlin

On January 4, the smash hit Joint Security Area became the best-selling local or foreign movie in Korean history when it passed Shiri to record 2,449,500 admissions in Seoul. It reached this mark in 118 days, three days longer than it took Shiri to record the same level. The film continues its theatrical run at present, despite a video release on February 16.

Apart from box-office records, the film has also broken new ground in film sales. On November 23, JSA was sold to Japan's Cine Quanon and Amuse Pictures for the record price of $2 million, topping the previous record held by Shiri, sold to Japan in 1999 for $1.3 million. The film is scheduled to be given a major Japanese release in May 2001. Further profits will be brought in by a record TV deal with local station SBS worth a record 1.2 billion won (~US$965,000). With a budget of only US$3 million, the film continues to add to its substantial profits.

In February JSA also became the sixth Korean feature to compete at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film did not receive a prize, with some critics dubbing it too mainstream for consideration. However it proved popular with viewers and many noted the pleasant irony of screening the film, which highlights the plight of a divided Korea, in once-divided Berlin.

Market share for Korean films dips to 32.6%

The Korean Film Commission (KOFIC) recently published its year-end box office report, revealing that the market share of Korean films dipped slightly in 2000 to 32.6% of the overall 27,063,612 admissions. Hollywood films accounted for 53.7% of the total, with Japanese (7.4%), Chinese/Hong Kong (3.3%) and European films (2.1%) making up the bulk of the remainder. Although somewhat lower than the unprecedented 36.1% level of 1999, the Korean film industry still boasts one of the highest market shares of any local industry in the world. 56 Korean films were released in all, compared to 236 foreign features.

Overall admissions in Korea were up 12.4% from last year, due perhaps in part to intensive construction of new theaters. Among distributors, CJ Entertainment took over the title of Korea's biggest distribution company, capturing 20.5% of the market with 17 films, including such heavyweights as JSA and Gladiator. Cinema Service was second with 15.% for 25 films, followed by Buena Vista (11.4%), Columbia (11.2%), UIP (6.9%), Warner Brothers (5.5%), and 20th Century Fox (4.9%).

In its report, the commission also noted that the average budget for Korean films has risen to US$1.7 million, a twofold increase over 1995. Exports to foreign countries totaled US$7million, ten times the level of 1998.

Ticket prices rise to 7000 won

After remaining stable for more than five years, ticket prices at Korean movie theaters have risen from 6000 to 7000 won (US$5.60 at current exchange rates). Seoul's largest multiplexes, Megabox Cineplex and CGV11 Kangbyun, were first to enact the change on December 23. In the following week several other multiplexes followed suit, and by the Lunar New Year all theaters nationwide had adopted the new prices.

Theater owners and film companies have long lobbied for a raise in ticket prices to increase revenues, but had previously faced strong pressure from viewers to keep prices stable. A vote of support from the Korean Motion Picture Producers Association reportedly helped to expedite the decision.

Internet films the rage in Korea

In the wake of young Koreans' high level of interest in the internet, digitally-produced films screened on the web have begun to achieve a remarkable degree of popularity. Government estimates place the number of internet users in Korea at roughly 20 million (pop. 48 mil.), with broadband access available to many, either in homes or local PC rooms. This level of penetration has provided a suitable environment for the development of internet films, and many famous directors and stars have committed to film projects intended solely for the web.

Most successful thus far has been the website Cine4m.com, which produced a trio of half-hour digital comedies by some of Korea's leading directors (see Newsletter #7). Following the success of films by directors Kim Ji-woon (1 million views) and Jang Jin (700,000 views), Cine4m scored its biggest smash with Dazimawa Lee, directed by young filmmaker Ryu Seung-wan (Die Bad). In a little over two months this supremely overacted spoof on 1970s film and culture has attracted more than 1.3 million viewers, and caused a minor sensation in the film industry.

As more and more netizens discover movies on the web, marketing budgets and competition for major stars are on the rise, and sites are beginning to charge viewers to watch their films. In the coming months, stars Yu Gee-tae, Lee Jung-jae, and Lee Eun-ju are all scheduled to make appearances in internet films.

Art theaters open in Seoul

In the past two years, the opening of multiplexes across Korea has transformed the local film industry. Recently, however, a rising number of venues devoted to non-mainstream films are making their mark on the film scene. Following the lead of Pusan Cinematheque, established in August 1999, the newer theaters utilize a different economic strategy to stay afloat in a time when art films have lost ground at the box-office.

Hypertheque Nada, for example, opened in August with a theater holding only 147 seats (each one named after a famous figure in the entertainment industry). With its small size, the theater hopes to reduce overhead enough to support itself financially. Nada has featured a varied program from its inception, and apart from playing host to local festivals such as the upcoming Seoul Women's Film Festival, the theater has also screened retrospectives of Taiwanese New Wave filmmakers, Kitano Takeshi and Tsukamoto Shinya.

The Seoul Cinematheque, which debuted on November 18, does not even own its own building. Made up of a group of young film enthusiasts, the organization has reached agreements with new multiplex Chongdong Star Six and the Art Sonje Gallery to host periodic retrospectives. In November it opened with an Orson Welles retrospective, followed by a program in January devoted to Ozu Yasujiro. The latter drew an unexpectedly high 4100 spectators.

A more upscale entry into the market is Kwanghwamun Cinecube, which opened on December 2 with two small but lavishly adorned theaters: Cinecube with 293 seats and Artcube with 78 seats. Owned by Baekdu-Daegan, director Lee Kwangmo's (Spring in My Hometown) film company, Cinecube has already hosted several film series, as well as screening Yaaba (1989), the first-ever African film to be distributed in Korea. Apart from its theaters Cinecube also offers a media library where viewers may enjoy DVDs, short films, and documentaries on 6 monitors free of charge.

The 21st Blue Dragon (Chongryong) Awards

The 21st edition of the Blue Dragon Awards was held this year on December 1st. The smash hit Joint Security Area was the clear winner of the evening, taking home prizes for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Actor. The film was also given a special award for highest box-office receipts. Sharing in the spotlight were Lee Mi-yeon and Sol Kyung-gu, who took home prizes for Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively. A full list of awards is given below:

Veteran film critic and screenwriter Lee Young-il, one of the most famous critics of his generation, passed away on January 18 at the age of 70. Lee's 1968 book The History of Korean Cinema was the first comprehensive history of Korean film ever published, and in 1988 it was updated and translated into English. In recent years, Lee had been compiling viewers' accounts of Korean films produced under the era of Japanese occupation (1910-1945), all of which have since been destroyed. At the time of his death the book remained unfinished.

Park Joong-hoon cast in Hollywood film

Actor Park Joong-hoon, who has attracted notice and accolades worldwide for his part in Lee Myung-Se's Nowhere to Hide (1999), has been cast to play a major role in Jonathan Demme's newest project, titled The Truth About Charlie. Demme, whose directorial resume includes Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Philadelphia (1993), was first introduced to Park during the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. The Truth About Charlie, a remake of the Audrey Hepburn film Charade, will also star Thandie Newton and Mark Wahlberg. Park will play an ex-special agent in charge of protecting Newton. He will appear in roughly 50% of the film's scenes, and will be paid $325,000.

Top five films of 2000

In their January 2 issue (#283), film magazine Cine21 published a list of the top 5 films from the year 2000, compiled from the votes of 19 local film critics. Peppermint Candy led an unusually strong field to take first place with 73 points. Full results are listed below.

Chunhyang (2000) by Im Kwon-taek won the grand prize for Best Feature at the 20th Hawaii International Film Festival. The festival was held from November 3-12 in Oahu and November 13-20 on five of the state's other islands.

Two Korean films were honored at the recent Slamdance Film Festival, held concurrently with the Sundance Film Festival. Bong Jun-ho's Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000) was awarded the Award for Best Editing while Memento Mori (1999) took home an award for Best Cinematography (Director of Photography Kim Yoon-soo). Both films were reportedly crowd favorites at the festival.

At the Bratislava International Film Festival, Peppermint Candy added to its list of awards when Lee Chang-dong won Best Director and Sol Kyung-gu was honored for Best Actor. The festival was held from Dec. 1-9.

The Isle (2000) by Kim Ki-duk was given a Special Jury Prize at the International Film Festival of Moscow held in January (not to be confused with the more famous Moscow International Film Festival held in June). The Isle also screened at the Sundance Film Festival in the same month.

Chang Moon-il was named winner of the New Director Prize at the 24th Cairo International Film Festival (Nov. 7-18) for his film The Happy Funeral Director (2000).

At the Leeds International Film Festival held in October, Happy End (1999) received a Jury's Special Mention for Excellence while The Refrigerator by Ahn Young-Seok was named Favourite Short Film.

Finally, at the Ajijic International Film Festival in Ajijic, Mexico (Nov. 8-12), a Jury Award for Short Subject was given to Luna Kim's The Apartment.

New releases with English subtitles

The following are the latest releases of Korean films with English subtitles. Note that subtitles are sometimes available in one format (e.g. DVD) but not in others (Video CD, videocassette). For a full list of subtitled Korean films available for purchase, visit http://koreanfilm.org/subtitles.html.

Peppermint Candy (2000). A bracing trip through 20 years of a man's life. On DVD (all-region) with English, Korean and Japanese subtitles. From Alto Media in Korea.

Libera Me (2000). A firefighting movie with impressive special effects, set in Pusan. On DVD (all-region) with English subtitles. From Saerom Entertainment in Korea.

In recent months, an unprecedented three Korean films have been released in the North American market: Lies, Nowhere to Hide, and Chunhyang. Of the three, Chunhyang appears to have attracted the most notice, winning positive reviews from U.S. critics and drawing higher than expected revenues at the box office. As of February 22, the film had grossed $432,126 in the U.S., making for a worldwide total of $600,626. After eight weeks of release it was playing on 15 screens and occupied #55 on box-office charts.

Meanwhile in Hong Kong, releases of Attack the Gas Station (1999) and The Contact (1997) were met with lower than expected receipts, perhaps due in part to lackluster marketing campaigns. Nonetheless, upcoming releases Bichunmoo (late February) and The Foul King (early March) will both look to enjoy the support of extensive marketing, with local favorite Stephen Chiao signed on to do Cantonese dubbing for The Foul King. Il Mare (2000) is also reportedly scheduled for a May release.

In Japan, Chunhyang has been the only Korean release of the past several months, however preparations are underway for the release of Joint Security Area on a truly grand scale, with rumors that it may open on up to 350 screens on May 19. If this should happen, JSA would be the biggest ever Asian release in Japan. A Japanese translation of DMZ, the Korean novel on which the movie is based, is also scheduled to hit bookstores before the release.

International sales

Note that sales to a given country do not necessarily guarantee a release. This is not a comprehensive list; I am merely passing along what I have heard.